Nu Rho Psi ( or NRP) is an American honor society for neuroscience. It was founded in 2006 by the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience and now an independent honor society. Nu Rho Psi is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in the state of Ohio.
Nu Rho Psi was founded on April 28, 2006, as an outgrowth of the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN). It organizing committee included Joe Achor of Baylor University, Shubhik DebBurman of Lake Forest College, Jean Hardwick of Ithaca College, Andy Mickley of Baldwin Wallace University, Ilsun White of Morehead State University, and Eric Wiertelak of Macalester College. The committee created Nu Rho Psi's constitution and by-laws and suggested its insignia.
Nu Rho Psi, The National Honor Society in Neuroscience, was approved by the FUN Council in April 2006. Its purpose is to promote interest in neuroscience, recognize the academic achievement of students, promote career development, encourage community service, and promote interaction between neuroscience students, faculty, and professionals. Mickley served as the society's first executive director.
The first chapter was chartered at Baldwin Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University) on November 7, 2006. This was followed by chapters at Baylor University in Dember 2006 and Macalester College in January 2007. In its formative years, the society was governed by the FUN Council, but, as the society grew, FUN decided that Nu Rho Psi would be better served by its own separate council. On February 7, 2011, Nu Rho Psi was incorporated in the state of Ohio. It became an independent tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] public charity on May 12, 2011. Its purpose is educational, charitable, scientific, and social.
The first Nu Rho Psi national council was elected in 2011, with terms starting January 1, 2012.Achor was its first president. Between 2013 and 2016, 29 chapters were chartered. By 2016, the society had grown to 58 chapters with more than 3,000 members. Mickley retired as the society's executive director on November 13, 2016, and was replaced by Mike Kerchner of Washington College.
As of June 2025, it had chartered 98 chapters and had initiated more than 14,000 members.
The Greek letters (Nu Rho Psi) were selected to represent neuroscience. The Greek letter stands for meaning "mind". The letter stands for , meaning, âÂÂto cureâÂÂ. The letter stands for , meaning âÂÂlife.âÂÂ
Members receive membership certificates and lapel pins. Graduating members may wear honor cords in society's colors, gold and black. Its symbol is the human brain. Its publication is Nu Rho Psi News.
Membership is by invitation and is open to undergraduate students who majoring or minoring in neuroscience and have completed at least three semesters with an overall 3.2 GPA and nine semester hours of neuroscience-related courses with a 3.5 GPA. Graduate students with a concentration in neurology must have completed at least nine credit hours with a 3.5. GPA. Nu Rho Psi is also open to qualifying neuroscience faculty and alumni of neuroscience programs. Nu Rho Psi membership is for life.
Nu Rho Psi offers competitive travel awards for members to attend and present their research at the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting. Nu Rho Psi also offers competitive small grants to facilitate member's senior theses or summer research projects. Nu Rho Psi mentors members through publications such as. The Nu Rho Psi Guide to Graduate School in Neuroscience.
As documented in the Nu Rho Psi News, individual Nu Rho Psi chapters organize a variety of service and educational activities throughout the year. Regional vice-presidents provide leadership of the federation of chapters in the region where they reside and represent their region through service on the national council. They are also responsible for promoting Nu Rho Psi activities during the regional undergraduate neuroscience meetings, including the Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium in Neuroscience, NEURON (Northeast Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience, SYNAPSE (Symposium for Young Neuroscientists and Professors of the SouthEast), and MIDBRAINS (Midwest Regional Neuroscience Conference). Nu Rho Psi holds an annual National Membership meeting during the Society for Neuroscience conference.
Following are the chapters of Nu Rho Psi.